Device for use in writing



I Patented Jan. 3, I899. E. H. LANIER.

DEVICE FOR USE IN WRITING.

(Application filed Jan. 6. 1898.\

(No Model.)

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EDIVARD II. LANIER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

DEVICE FOR USE IN WRITING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,169, dated January3, 1899.

Application filed January 6, 1898.

To a whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. LANIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Memphis, in the countyof Shelbyand State of Tennessee, haveinvented a new and useful Device for Use in \Vriting, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is a device intended for use on the hand for the purpose ofsecuring the proper position of the thumb in writing, and as the correctposition of the thumb in a measure controls the correct position of thefingers the device operates thus to insure the correct position of thehand.

The invention eonsistsin certain novel constructions and combinations ofparts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a hand provided with myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device in place on thethumb. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the device. Figs. at and 5 aredetail views.

Bymyinvention I provide a device for holding the thumb in correctposition. In doing so I form it with a body A, preferably in the form ofa bow, with its bore bent or curved to correspond with the correct bendof the thumb in writing. By this construction when the device is on thethumb, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will operate to hold the thumbsteadily in position, with its knuckle-joint bent as desired, so suchjoint cannot bend freely while writing. Inasmuch as the fingers are in asense dependent upon the thumb, the holding of the thumb in properposition will in a large measure operate to retain the fingers incorrect position, and thus secure the correct position of the hand,which, as is well known, is necessary to good writing.

By making the body A in the form of a bow I am able to readily slip iton the finger and then to draw the bow tightly to hold the thumb as isdesired. To this end I provide an adjustable connecting device for thefree ends of the bow, which, as shown, consists of a screw B, which isthreaded in one end of the bow at C, and has near its point a groove D,by which it is fitted in a slot E formed in the other end of the bow, sothe screw may be readily swiveled at its point to the bow and beattached and detacl1ed,as desired. By this Serial No. 665,826. (Nomodel.)

screw the bow may be tightened when applied to the thumb and may alsobeadapted to fit thumbs differing slight-lyin size; but it is my purposein practice to make the devices in different sizes, thus insuring aperfect fit to each and every thumb.

As preferred, I provide the body A at its outer side with an internalconcaved seat F for the thumb-knuckle, the ends of the bow or body beingformed to press the knuckle firmly in the seat F. On opposite sides ofthe seat F-that is to say, in front and rear thereof-Iprovide straps Gand G, which are so related to the seat F as to hold the thumb in thedesired bent position.

An adjustable rest II is connected with the body A and is adapted tomove freely over the surface of the paper. This rest is preferably ascrew arranged to bear upon the pa per directly under the middle of thethumb and threaded in connection with the body A, so it may be sethigher or lower, as desired, and the bearing for the screw H is securedby returning the inner end of the bow to form bearings at H and H whichoperate to hold the rest-screw II steadily in position.

The body A is notched in its front edge at I to form a pen-rest and isprovided at one side of said notch with a hook-like extension I, whichaids in forming the rest for the pen.

At J and J the edges of the body A are flared to render the same morecomfortable to the hand.

The device may be made of any suitable material; but preferably I makeit of highlypolished springy metal, which may be nickeled, plated, orotherwise, finished or ornamented to suit the demands of the trade.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. A device for use in writing, consisting of a bow having its boreformed to correspond with the correct bend'of the thumb, and anadjustable connecting device for the free ends of the bow substantiallyas set forth.

2. A device for use in writing consisting of a bow-like body formed tofit over the thumb and having in its outer side an internal concavedseat for the thumb and an adjustable device connecting the free ends ofthe bow substantially as set forth.

3. A device for use in writing, consisting of the bow-like body formedto fit over the thumb and having near one end a slot and near its otherend a threaded opening, and the screw turning in said opening andswiveling in the slot of the bow substantially as described.

4:. A device for use in writing formed to fit over the thumb and havinga rest adapted to move upon the writing-surface and adj ustablyconnected with the part which fits over the thumb substantially as setforth.

5. A device for use in writing consisting of the bow-like body havingone end returned forming a double bearing for the rest-screw, therest-screw engaging said bearings, and an adjustable connecting devicefor the ends of the bow substantially as set forth.

6. A device for use in writing consisting of a bow-like body formed tofit over the thumb and having its edges flared, and an adjustableconnection for the free ends of the bowlike body substantially as setforth.

7. A device for use in writing substantially as described consisting ofthe bow-like body having in its outer side an internal concaved seat forthe thumb-knuckle and provided with straps or bars in front and rear ofsaid seat, one end of the bow being returned forming a double bearingfor the rest-screw, the rest-screw engaging such bearings, and the screwfor adj ustably connecting the free ends of the bow substantially asdescribed.

8. The herein-described device for use in writing consisting of the bowhaving a general bend or curvature from end to end corresponding to thedesired bend of the thumb, an adjusting connection between the free endsof the bow, and a rest device adjustably connected with the bow,substantially as set forth.

9. In a device for use in writing, a thumb holder comprising a bodyadapted to fit over the thumb and to extend from a point in rear to apointin advance of the thumb-knuckle and having in its front edge at itsupper side a notch forming a pen-rest, substantially as set forth.

EDWARD H. LANIER. \Vitnesses:

SoLoN O. KEMON, P. B. TURPIN.

